School of Law

Charles Hamilton Houston Scholars Program

The Charles Hamilton Houston Scholars Program improves undergraduate performance while preparing students for law school.

Program Dates May 29th - June 8th, 2018

Applications now being accepted

Who is Charles Hamilton Houston?

Charles Hamilton Houston (1895–1950) was an African-American lawyer, dean of the Howard University School of Law and litigation director for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Houston, who played a significant role in dismantling the Jim Crow laws, also trained future U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.

Born in Washington, D.C., Houston attended Amherst College and Harvard Law School, where he was a member of the Harvard Law Review and graduated with honors.

Known as “The Man Who Killed Jim Crow,” Houston played a role in nearly every civil rights case before the Supreme Court between 1930 and 1954. He masterminded the strategy that attacked the “separate but equal” doctrine and that led to the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision.

The Charles Hamilton Houston Scholars Program (CHHSP) helps underrepresented college freshmen and sophomores develop the academic skills needed to improve undergraduate performance and to enhance their chances for admission to and success in law school.

WHAT IS CHHSP?

CHHSP focuses on the challenges often faced by minority students who may not have the social, experiential and cultural capital that facilitates success and enhances confidence. Weekly workshops designed and conducted by legal experts help empower students to meet and overcome these challenges. The program focuses on reading comprehension, analytical and critical thinking, writing skills, life planning and strategies to overcome barriers to success.

Each scholar is mentored by a member of the Baltimore City legal community and experiences the practice of law through:

WHO ARE OUR SCHOLARS?

We are looking for college students who are like Charles Hamilton Houston -- students who:

are interested in a legal career

have demonstrated academic ability and potential

are highly motivated

can benefit from a program of study skills and mentoring.

Such students, following in Houston's footsteps, will enter the legal academy empowered and enriched.

COMPLETE THE APPLICATION:

Print out the application found here. Once it's complete you may send it by fax, email or mail or drop it off. You will also need to write two essays and provide a college transcript and a letter of recommendation. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and See the application for details.